In rugby league, a team normally gets a maximum of six tackles in one set.
The six-tackle rule structures possession and is central to the modern rhythm of the game. After a team gains the ball, it can make up to six completed tackles before possession normally changes hands. Teams use early tackles to carry the ball forward and organize their shape, then often kick on the final tackle to force the opposition to defend from a less favorable position.
The rule was introduced in 1966, replacing the earlier four-tackle system. The change was designed to reduce excessive stoppages and make matches more open and entertaining. It also encouraged tactical kicking, defensive line speed and planned attacking sequences.
A set can end before the sixth tackle if the ball is lost, a penalty is conceded, a knock-on occurs, or another rule stops play. Modern laws also include special circumstances, such as a zero-tackle restart after certain possession changes, so “six” describes the normal maximum rather than every possible possession sequence.